Well drilling



VW. SHELDON WELL DRILL'ING Filed May 9. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mgm.

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w. sHELDoN WELL DRILLING Filled .may 9. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 wam/Mm @mgmmm I Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

WALDO SHELDON, F GREEN WICH, CONNECTICUT.

WELL DBILLING.

Application illed May 9, 1924. Serial No. 711,981.

This invention relates to rotary well drilling apparatus and the objects of the invention are to provide power feed mechanism for the drill stem combined with the rotary t-able in such a way as not to interfere with the usual andordinary operations of the rotary and arranged `to applyv any desired lifting or lowering force to the drill stem and at the same time to exert a guiding and controlling effect to overcome gyratory vtendencies.

Various other objects and the novel features of construction, combination and relation of parts which make possible the attainment of the same will appear in the course of the following specification. i

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specificatiomthe invention is illustrated in one simple practical forni, Figure 1 being a part sectional vertical elevation of the apparatus, Figure 2 a top plan view of the same and Figure 3 a bottom plan view. v

The rotary table is indicated at 5 yand is shown as of special construction in that it has an elongated dependent tubular extension or barrel 6, having a bearingin an elongated sleeve 7 forming a part of the base of the table. The long bearing thus provided steadies the table and keeps it running true under conditions of heavy strain. i

Carried by the table and rotating therewith is a sleeve 8 keyed to turn with the table, in the illustration, by long keys 9 .seated in keyways in the bore of the table and slidingly received in keyways 10 in the sides of the sleeve' 8, the latter being thereby forced to rotate with' the table, but free to slide vertically therethrough.

The sleeve 8 is equipped at its upper end with appropriate drill stem engaging means the same being herein shown as slips 11 seated in a bushing or adapter 12 secured to the upper end of the sleeve.

The power for shifting the so-called chuck sleeve is supplied in the present disclosure by two hydraulic or pressure cylinders 13 supported on the base plate 14 at opposite 50 sides of the tableand having pistons l5 operating therein provided with rods 16 engaged at their lower projecting ends with the ends of a yoke 17 encircling the lower end of the chuck sleeve at 18 with thrust bearings 19, 20 above and below the same for transmission of the lifting or lowering force to the annular thrust`shoulders 21, 22 on the chuck sleeve.

lTo overcome the twisting effort on lthe power applying yoke, said yoke is shown as provided toward its outer ends with bearings 23 sliding over guide rods 24 secured to` brackets 25 dependent from the I-beams 26 forming the supporting frame for the `entire structure. 4

The water or other actuating Huid is admitted to and discharged from the `power cylinders at opposite sides of the pistons therein by connections such as indicated at 27 under control of suitable valve mechanism Iand this mechanism is preferably of such a type as to control to an exact degree, the

lifting or lowering force applied to the drill stem through the medium of the sliding and rotating chuck sleeve. This makes it possible to control the drilling operations to/suit varying conditions which may be encountered. The yoke is positively guided independently of the piston rods so ,that the piston and piston rods are relieved of strain and operate freely under the applied pressure. The yoke and cylinders bein suspended from the bed plate and locatednelow the table are out of the way for the use of tongs or other devices employed in' rotary drilling operations and when the chuck sleeve is fully lowered, the device may then be used as a straight rotary by simply employing adapters or bushings to fit the grief stem or drill pipe.

The lowering of the center of gravity effected by placing the yoke and cylinders below the table gives stability and steadiness of opration. In the construction illustrated, greater stability is aforded and constant alinement of the parts is insured by connecting and bracing the tubular bearing of the table, the guide rods and the cylinders by a two-part clamp 28 shaped to ft about these `elements and having its parts connected together by bolts 29 extended through opposed lugs 30 on the respective parts. This clamp thus forms a tie betweenl all the dependent portions of the pparatus, holding them l together rigidly in permanently alined relation.

What is claimed is:

1. In well drilling apparatus, the combination of a base plate and an elongated bearing sleeve dependent from said base plate, a rotary table having a dependent elongated sleeve journaled in said elongated bearing sleeve and having bearing engagements therein 4at widely separated points at the upper and lower ends thereof, means below the base plate for bracing the lower end of said elongated bearing sleeve to enable the same to keep the rotary table running true under conditions of heavy strain, a sleeve slidably keyed within the elongated `sleeve of the table and guided in its vertical movements by said elongated table sleeve and drill stem engaging means carried by the up er end of the 'sleeve which is thus sli ingly held in the table sleeve.

2. In well drilling apparatus, the combif nation of a base plate and an elongated bearing sleeve dependent from said base plate, a rotary table having a dependent elongated sleeve journaled in said elongated bearing sleeve and having bearing engagements therein at widely separated points at the upper and lower ends thereof, means below the base plate for bracing the lower end of said elongated bearing sleeve to enable the same to keep the rotary table running trueunder conditions of heavy strain,` a sleeve slidably keyed within the elongated sleeve of the table and vguided in its vertical movements by said elongated table sleeve, drill stem engaging means carried by'nthe upper end of the sleeve which is thus ,slidingly held in the table sleeve and power mechanism below the rotary table for positlvely raising and lowering the\sliding drill stem driving sleeve, said sleeve' having a downward movement suficient to bring the upper end of the same down to the top of the table to leave, the table clear for rotary drilling operations.

3: In well ,drilling apparatus, .the combination of a base plate and an elongated bearlng sleeve dependent from said base plate, a rotary table having a dependent elongated sleeve journaled in said elongated bearing sleeve, and having bearing engagements therein at widely separated points at the upper and lower ends thereof, means below the lbase plate for bracing the lower end of said elongated ybearing sleeve to enable the same to keep the rotary table running true under conditions of heavy strain, a sleeve slldably keyed within the lelongated sleeve of the table and guided in its vertical movements by said elongated. table sleeve and drill stem engaging means carried by tl1.e upper end of the sleeve which is thus slidingly held in the table sleeve and oomprislng a bushing seated in the upper end of the sliding sleeve and pipe gripping means seated in said bushing.

`4. In well drilling apparatus, the combination of a base plate and an elongatedbearing sleeve dependent from said base plate, a rotary table having a dependent elongated sleeve journaled in said elongated bearing sleeve, means below the baseV plate for bracing the lower end of. said elongated bearing sleeve to enable the same to keep the rotary table running true under conditions of heavy strain, a sleeve slidably keyed within the elongated sleeve of the table and guided in its vertical movements by said elongated table sleeve, drill stem engaging means carried by the upperI end of thesleeve which is thusl slidingly held in the table sleeve, power cylinders dependent from the b-ase plat-e at the sides of the table, pistons operating in said cylinders having downwardly projecting piston rods and a yoke carried lby said piston rodshaving 'a relatively rotatable engagement with'the lower end of the Isliding `drill stem driving sleeve.

5. In well drilling apparatus., the combination of a. 'base plate and an elongated which 'is --th`us slidingly held in the'table sleeve, power cylinders dependent from the base plate at the sides of the table, pistons operating in said cylinders having downwai'dly projecting piston rods, a yoke car ried b said piston rods`Jhav1ng a relatively rotata le engagement with the lower end of 'the sliding drill stem driving sleeve and guides for said yoke interposed between the cylinders and the dependent bearmg sleeve.

6. In well drilling apparatus, a base having an elongated bearing sleeve, a, rotary table havingI an elongated dependent sleeve journaled in said bearing sleeve, a sleeve slidingly keyed in the table sleeve, drill stem engaging means carried by the upper end of said sliding sleeve and power mechanism below the rotary table having a relatively rotatable pressure applying connectionwith the lower end of said drills stem driving sleeve entirely below the rotary table. l

7. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, means for rotating the drill stem carried by the table, power cylinders supported' rotary table having a lower bearing adjacent i the lower ends ofthe cylinders, downwardly projecting guides for the yoke and a brace engaged with the lower table bearing, the

guides, and the cylinders, for maintaining lall in proper relation.

8. In well drilling apparatus, supporting beams, a bed plate on said beams, a rotaryl dependent from the bed plate and having downwardly operating piston rods, a yoke. connected with the lower ends of said piston rods and a drill stem driving sleeve slidingly keyed in the sleeve of the table and having a relatively rotatable engagement at its'lower end with the yoke.

9. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary provided with an extended sleeve, a base for the rotaryA havingv a bearing` for the lower end of said sleeve, a tubular member slidingly keyed in said sleeveand provided with drill stem engaging means, a non-rotating yoke having relatively rotatable connection with said tubular member, guides for said non-rotating yoke and power cylinders having piston rods connected with said yoke.

10. In well drilling apparatus, supporting beams, a'bed plate on said beams, a rotary having an extended sleeve, a base for said rotary mpunted on the bed plate and including an. elongated bearing for the sleeve dependent from the bed plate, guides dependent from the beams at o posite sides ofsa'id bearing, a yoke sliding y engaged -on said guides, cylinders supported in dependent relation from the bed plate and having piston rods engaged w-ith the yoke, a sleeve slidingly keyed inthe sleeve of the rotary and having relatively rotatable connection with the sliding yoke at its lower end and drill stem driving means carried by the upper end of said slidingly keyed sleeve.

1-1. In well drilling apparatus, supporting beams, a bed plate on said beams, a rotary having an extended sleeve, a -base for said rotary mounted on the bed plate and including an elongated bearing for the sleeve dependent from the bed plate, lguides dependent from the beams at opposite sides of said bearing, a yoke slidingly engaged on said guides, cylinders supported in dependent relation from'the bed plate and having piston rods engaged with the yoke, and a drill stem' engaging tubular member slidingly'-keycd in the sleeve ofthe table and having a relatively rotatable connection with the yoke.

12. In well drilling apparatus, supporting beams, a bed plate on said beams, a rotary having an extended sleeve, a base for said rotary mountedyon the bed plate and including an ing an elongated bearing for the sleeve dependent from the bed plate, guides dependent from the beams at opposite sides of said bearing, a yoke slidingly engaged on said guides, cylinders supported in dependentV re-l lation from the bed plate and having piston rods engaged with the yoke,'a drill stem engaging tubular member slidingly keyed. in the sleeve ofthe table and having a relatively rotatable connection with the'yoke and a brace connecting the lower ends of the bearing with,l the lower ends of the -cyl'- inders and the` guides.

' 13'.I In well drilling apparatus, a yrotary table havingan extended. sleeve dependent therefrom, a base for said table having a dependent velongated rigid bearing sleeve re-l ceivin the extended sleeve dependent from the ta le, a sleeveslidingly keyed in the eX- tended sleeve of the table and lowerable down to the top of the table to leave the space above the table clear for the usual rotary drilling operations, drill stem driving means carried by the'upper end of the sliding sleeve 'and accessible over the top of the table and power means below the table havl ing a relatively rotatable power applying connection with said drill stem driving sleeve for raising and lowering the same without obstructing the table.

14. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table having an unobstructed top clear for rotary 'drilling operations, power cylinders located at the sides of and below said table, downwardly acting pistons in said cylinders having downwardly projecting piston rods, a yoke connected with said piston rod and :located entirely below the table and a drill stem driving sleeve having a freely rotatable connection with said yoke at its lower end, said sleeve being slidingly keyed in the table so as to partake of the rotation ofthe same and providedv at its upper end with drill stem gripping means freely accessibleA over the top of the table.

i 15. In Well vdrilling' apparatus, a rotary table, power cylinders located at opposite sides and extending below said table, a drill stem ydriving sleeve slidingly keyed in said` ltable and extending between the power cylinders, downwardly projecting guides located between said cylinders and the drive sleeve, a yoke slidinglyl engaged with said' guides and having a relatively rotatable connection with the lower end of the drive sleeve and pistons in the cylinders connected with the yoke at the outer sides of said guides'.

16. In well drilling apparatus, a base havelongated darge. diameter bearing sleeve, a rotary table having an elongated dependentlarge diameter barrel extension journaled in said sleeve, power cylinders supported by the base at lopposite sides of said sleeve and below the top of the table, between the yoke and one end of the drive pistons operating in said power cylinders sleeve, a drive ybushing secured in they upper and having' projecting piston rods, a nonend of the drive sleeve and drill pipe grip-.10 rotating power applying yoke actuated by ping means seated in said bushing.

5 Said piston rods, a drill stem driving sleeve In witness whereof, I have hereunto set slidingly keyed in the dependent barrel of my hand this 2nd day'of May, 1924. the table, thrust transmitting connections WALDO SHELDON. 

